Memorable moments: The natural catalyst

We were spending a weekend at a B&B on the Breede River with Dana and Corrine, two of the most wonderful friends of Russell. Corrine is a literal live wire—a high-energy, extroverted force of nature who is always the beating heart of the party. Dana, by contrast, is more reserved but lovely, possessing a razor-sharp, quiet wit.

As we sat around the dinner table, the conversation turned to the effects of a good vintage. I admitted that if I’m feeling a bit shy, a glass of wine usually helps me find my voice.

"Alcohol is a great form of social lubrication," I remarked, leaning into the comfort of my glass.

Dana nodded thoughtfully, glancing over at her wife, who was no doubt already mid-anecdote at the other end of the table. "Ah yes," she said perfectly. "It works for me, too. But my wife? Corrine needs no lubrication!"

The table erupted. It was the absolute perfect summary of Corrine’s infectious personality—most of us need a catalyst to get the conversation flowing, but Corrine is the chemical reaction. She doesn't need a bottle to get started; she arrived at the party already fully charged and ready to fire.

Weekend at The Breede River

I had such a super time at the Breede River with Russell and the Herd clan.

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Highlights included ...

• Driving there with Russell and his two married friends, Corrine and Dana.  They are both screams, and it was a lot of fun.
• A fun and adventurous paddle up the river with Brandon and Russell, pulling the canoe up some rapids, then enjoying going down them.  Brandon took his dog in the canoe and he loved every minute of it.
• Sleeping up in the loft (quite hard to get to!)
• Paddling by myself in the evening, enjoying the solitude and the breathtaking reflections on the river.
• The amazing sunset.
• Hilarious games in the evening. The most fun game involved writing a saucy sentence at the top of a page Then passing it to the person on the right who drew a picture reflecting the sentence.  Then folding it over so only the drawing showed and passing it on again to someone who had to write a sentence based on what the picture showed. And so on, until it passed the whole group.  Then we all compared the original sentence with the last one, with great hilarity.
• Getting the most electric kiss of my life.  I bent forward over a fence to breathe into a horse's nose (as one does!) and my lips glanced the fence which turned out to be electric.  My lips got the shock of their lives!
• Sword fighting with the paddles with Brandon's gorgeous little daughter.
• Dana tricking us into eating a raw olive at the Olive farm.  Probably the most bitter thing I've ever eaten.
• Visiting a cheese farm that didn't provide the greatest variety.  Gouda, Gouda or Gouda.